Quote of the Day

Joseph: "I wish we could have Sicily and America mixed together..."

Me: "Why?"

Joseph: "Because then we wouldn't have to eat so late!"

Rest assured, we had food back here at the apartment. No waiting until 9 to eat was necessary for the poor boy.

I had a long talk with my hostess here last night about the Italian way of scheduling life. I am still puzzled by it, although after talking with her, I understand it a bit more - even she expressed a bit of frustration with certain aspects of it.

Those of you who are living or have lived in Italy please add your two cents. The bottom line for me is that while I appreciate so much of this way of life (and it is a different way of life), the whole business of almost everything shutting down between noon and three (or sometimes closer to four) in Sicily is hard to adjust to. Of course, not everything shuts down - which is what I was asking her, trying to figure out what your day would be like if you worked in an office of some sort, or were a lawyer or doctor or construction worker. Not everyone gets the three-hour break (although when you drive through these little town during that time, as I have done quite often this week - it's dead. A desert. Everything shuttered, one guy standing on the street smoking, staring at the crazy American woman tooling through town on her way to God knows where, which is good because she sure as heck doesn't know where)  who is in turn, staring at him.).

The other night we went to eat - at a great restaurant - and got there at what we considered a reasonable hour - late by American standards, especially with children - but we figured it was a decent compromise: 8:15.

We were the only people there.

By 9, a few more had shown up. I asked my hostess, "So, at 10 would it be full?" Oh, yes, she answered - because of that midday break, so many people's work days don't actually end until 8 or so - going to dinner at 9 is about as early as you can make it, or want to.

I'm just so intrigued by all of it.

Oh, and "prego." Every time I think I have a handle on all the nuances of "prego" I get confused. It means..."ready" - as in, when you're in a store, the clerk says "prego" to indicate - "go ahead, what do you want?"  But then, when you're done, they say "prego" again - does it mean "you're welcome?" And on the beach, the guys who wander the shore selling things, say, "Prego, pursa" or "prego, coca" - as in coconut.

And illumination would be welcome.

Prego...